‘This is a special place and we intend a special park’

Sunday

Sep 29, 2013 at 12:01 AM

At last, iconic Silver Springs will join the statewide network of Florida’s award-winning state parks.

By Donald ForgioneSpecial to the Star-Banner

On Tuesday at 8 a.m., the gates will open at Silver Springs State Park. At last, Central Florida’s iconic Silver Springs will join the statewide network of Florida’s award-winning state parks. Visitors may enjoy glass bottom boat rides, launching a canoe or kayak, picnicking and refreshments. Educational opportunities abound.Over the past several months, the Florida Park Service, volunteers and others within the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have worked diligently to prepare for this day. After environmental assessment and exploring the future restoration options, we are excited to re-introduce Silver Springs to the local community for residents and visitors to enjoy.DEP will continue using the money Palace Entertainment agreed to pay to vacate its lease toward the restoration of various facilities on the property. In addition, on Sept. 4, Gov. Rick Scott announced an additional $37 million for springs protection in Florida, of which $20 million will be directly invested in projects designed to reduce the nutrient levels within the springshed affecting Silver Springs by approximately 700,000 pounds per year. This funding will allow us to continue to focus on the springs and habitats surrounding them. Our parks and construction staff have been focused on this project, working in tandem with the department’s water quality scientists, who, under this administration for the first time, are developing a restoration plan to address excess nutrient problems at Silver Springs. The department’s regulatory staff conducted an assessment of the grounds, analyzing more than 110 soil samples and 30 monitoring well inspections to see what additional environmental improvements could be made on top of what has already been planned. Local natural resources are the foundation of all Florida state parks — without a safe habitat for the native species, Silver Springs can’t live up to its full potential.In addition to protecting the environment, DEP and the Park Service must ensure that Silver Springs meets the visitor standards expected at all 171 of our state parks, greenways and trails. For example, the department must safeguard all historical and archaeological resources and ensure that the park is accessible for all visitors and adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act. After limited work at the property this spring, the department discovered infrastructure problems that need to be fully investigated and fixed, which requires time to be properly evaluated, ensuring the issues are completely resolved.While work will continue beyond the opening day on Tuesday, the amount of engineering, permitting and behind-the-scenes accomplishments made may go overlooked. The property becomes more environmentally sound every day.All the hard work that the department and its partners have done will be rewarded when residents and visitors experience the natural beauty of Silver Springs — done the right way, with proper environmental planning. We know this is a special place and we intend to make this a special park — one worthy of the efforts that have gone into it so far and one worthy of being called a Florida state park.The park will be open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to sunset. The entrance fee will be $5 for individuals or $8 per vehicle, up to eight people. Admission will be good for both the spring and river portions of the park. The river portion features hiking and equestrian trails, guided horseback rides and more.Donald Forgione is the director of the Florida Park Service and lives in Tallahassee.